Group Elimination B: Sunday, 17 June 2012 - Lviv - New Lviv Stadium

The Danes and the Germans meet up on June 17 at the New Lviv Stadium for a final Group B match

Denmark

The Danes were looking to repeat their heroic exploits from 20 years ago but the agenda was put down by the Portuguese on the 13th. Despite their current state, the Danes stormed through the qualifications losing only to Portugal along the way. The previous match up against the Portuguese almost went to their favor with their defense keeping Ronaldo and the boys at bay. Christian Eriksen, the main focal point of the group alongside striker Nicklas Bendtner and team captain Daniel Agger, the team can pursue their intentions as long as they stay true to their formation of 4-2-3-1.

Despite the successful run through the qualifying stage and having a decent FIFA world ranking of 10, the Danes undoubtedly are the worst team within the Group B realm mainly due to the fact that they have strong opponents within the group. Another problem that they have to live with is that the vastly experience keeper Thomas Sorensen is out due to a back injury possibly compromise their defensive state.

Germany

With a perfect record by winning all 12 matches and achieving close to 40 goals en route, the Germans look untouchable at this point and will surely give the Danes a run for their money on the upcoming match this June 17. They did fairly well against Group B heavyweights the Netherlands and Portugal early on in the group stage. Mario Gomez is a formidable player and looks to drive the Germans all the way.

But defense has always been a weak point for the Germans for having let in too many goals on occasion. The Danes need to learn how to exploit this weakness then they can well overtake the German supremacy and achieve an upset.

Predictions: Germany wins 2-0

The records show a lot about the two teams and Germany’s current state is still more favorable as compared to that of the Danes. If they upgrade on their defense, which is most likely to happen, the Danish team does not stand a chance against the German offensive.

Euro Cup 2012 Highlights: Germany Squeezes by Denmark 2-1

Germany failed to sparkle but still advanced to a quarterfinal against Greece after grinding out a 2-1 victory over Denmark on Sunday at the European Championship.

The Danes were eliminated after the two teams finished their Group B campaigns.

Lukas Podolski opened the scoring for Germany in the 19th minute and Lars Bender slotted home the winner in the 80th after Michael Krohn-Dehli had equalized for Denmark in the first half.

"It's absolutely a day of joy," Bender said. "I'll be thinking back to this day a long, long time. We have a positive spirit in the team."

Germany played without flair, but controlled possession and were never really challenged by the Danes, who go home after stunning the Netherlands in the first match but losing to Portugal in the second.

"We can be satisfied with our effort but not with the result," Denmark midfielder William Kvist said. "I think we proved that we can play against the big teams. We won (against the Netherlands) and we didn't lose big. We showed that we can play against the best."

Germany seized the initiative from the kickoff and came close twice before Podolski, playing his 100th international match, scored his first goal of the tournament.

Mario Gomez set him up with a deft backheel touch following Thomas Mueller's low cross from the right flank.

Denmark replied just five minutes later with Krohn-Dehli heading in the equalizer from a set piece that stunned the German defense. A corner found Nicklas Bendtner who headed the ball into the area where Krohn-Dehli nodded home his second goal at Euro 2012.

Jakob Poulsen missed a chance to put Denmark in the driver's seat at the start of the second half when his shot grazed the outside of German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's right post.

After that scare, the Germans were firmly in charge and denied Denmark any real chance of getting back into the game.

Coach Morten Olsen's men were already looking tired when Bender, replacing suspended right back Jerome Boateng, picked up a pass from Mesut Oezil and made it 2-1.

"We should have gone ahead by two or three goals in the first half, but Denmark scored virtually out of nowhere," Germany coach Joachim Loew said.

"I think we had the game well under control. You get the feeling Denmark doesn't want to score, that they don't want to go forward, but suddenly they push ahead," he said. "We had a lot of possession and I was sure that we would score and advance."

It was the first competitive match between the two countries since the 1992 European Championship final, when the Danes stunned the Germans with a 2-0 win to become champions.

Hoping for another upset, Olsen changed his lineup by moving playmaker Christian Eriksen to the right flank, replacing injured winger Dennis Rommedahl in a five-man midfield.

But the move had little effect as Philipp Lahm effectively closed down the talented 20-year-old, who leaves Euro 2012 without fulfilling expectations of an international breakthrough.

Olsen praised the Germans, saying they played "fantastic football" that confirmed they are among the favorites to win the European title.

He regretted that Denmark wasn't able to salvage a point in the previous game against Portugal. The Danes conceded in the final minutes in the 3-2 loss.

"Having said that, I think we have done a really good job in this tournament," Olsen said. "This team has a future."

Germany finished top of the group with a perfect record of three wins and now faces Euro 2004 champion Greece on Friday in Gdansk

EURO 2012: Germany vs Denmark Timeline

• 90+3' - The whistle has gone to end the second half. The match finishes 1-2.
• 90+2' - Daniel Agger of Denmark is pulled up for offside.
• 90+2' - Germany drive forward but Andre Schurrle is judged offside.
• 90+1' - Miroslav Klose of Germany is pulled up for offside.
• 90+1' - Important block from the Denmark defence as Bastian Schweinsteiger fires in a strike for Germany.
• 90' - 3 minutes of injury time will be added to the Second half.
• 86' - Simon Poulsen for Denmark is whistled offside.
• 84' - Toni Kroos is on a sub for Thomas Muller for Germany.
• 84' - Daniel Agger (Denmark) gets up for a header but cannot keep the ball on target.
• 84' - Carlos Velasco Carballo has awarded Denmark a corner. Lars Jacobsen takes the kick from the Right .
• 82' - Tobias Mikkelsen is replacing Jakob Poulsen for Denmark at Arena Lviv.
• 80' - Mesut Ozil with an assist there.
• 80' - Germany take a 1-2 lead thanks to Lars Bender.
• 78' - Morten Olsen (Denmark) is making a First substitution, with Christian Poulsen replacing Niki Zimling.
• 78' - Germany's Sami Khedira misses with an attempt on goal.
• 76' - Nicklas Bendtner for Denmark drives towards goal at Arena Lviv. But the finish is unsuccessful.
• 74' - Germany make their Second substitution with Miroslav Klose replacing Mario Gomez.
• 71' - At Arena Lviv Michael Krohn-Dehli (Denmark) takes a corner from the Left.
• 71' - Niki Zimling gets his shot on target but fails to score for Denmark.
• 67' - In Lviv Germany drive forward through Andre Schurrle. His shot is on target but it's saved.
• 64' - Joachim Low is making the team's First substitution at Arena Lviv with Andre Schurrle replacing Lukas Podolski.
• 64' - Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany) gets in a strike but the shot is blocked by a defender.
• 63' - Thomas Muller (Germany) is given an opening but the shot is blocked by a defender.
• 62' - Germany have been awarded a corner by Carlos Velasco Carballo. Mesut Ozil steps up to take it.
• 57' - Carlos Velasco Carballo blows against Denmark's Simon Poulsen for offside.
• 56' - Denmark drive forward and Lars Jacobsen gets in a shot. Without netting, however.
• 51' - Jakob Poulsen of Denmark gets in a strike, but is off target.
• 50' - In Lviv Germany attack through Mario Gomez. The finish is off target, however.
• 46' - The second-half has just kicked-off.
• 45+1' - The first-half is over.
• 45' - Simon Kjaer (Denmark) goes for goal but the shot is blocked by an alert defence.
• 45' - Carlos Velasco Carballo has awarded Denmark a corner. Christian Eriksen takes the kick from the Left .
• 41' - Germany are coming forward and Sami Khedira gets in a strike, it misses the target, however.
• 37' - Lukas Podolski for Germany gets in a strike but fails to hit the target.
• 34' - Germany have been awarded a corner by Carlos Velasco Carballo. Mesut Ozil steps up to take it.
• 33' - Germany's Mario Gomez breaks free at Arena Lviv. But the strike goes wide of the post.
• 32' - In Lviv Bastian Schweinsteiger for Germany takes a corner from the Left-hand flag.
• 29' - Denmark are pushing forward but Michael Krohn-Dehli's finish is wide of the goal.
• 24' - That's a fine assist from Nicklas Bendtner.
• 24' - Michael Krohn-Dehli (Denmark) nets with a header to make it 1-1 at Arena Lviv.
• 23' - At Arena Lviv Lars Jacobsen (Denmark) takes a corner from the Right.
• 19' - Mario Gomez instrumental with a fine assist.
• 19' - Goal! Lukas Podolski gives Germany a 0-1 lead.
• 14' - Nicklas Bendtner of Denmark gets in a strike, but is off target.
• 12' - Germany are coming forward and Mario Gomez gets in a strike, it misses the target, however.
• 6' - Germany's Thomas Muller gets in a shot on goal at Arena Lviv. But the effort is unsuccessful.
• 5' - Nicklas Bendtner (Denmark) gets in a header on goal but the attempt is cleared.
• 5' - Corner awarded to Denmark.
• 2' - Germany's Thomas Muller misses with an attempt on goal.
• 2' - Denmark's Michael Krohn-Dehli has run offside.
• 1' - The match has started at Arena Lviv.

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